Chapter 8

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The restaurant’s interior was elegantly serene, with the boss having specially reserved a window-side seat for Jiang Shiyao. A screen partitioned off the area, and a flower stand in the corner held fragrant water lilies, their dewy petals filling the air with a captivating scent.

It was the perfect atmosphere for a date, but now with Su Jinglan there too, no arrangement felt quite right. Jiang Shiyao mustered a smile, pulled out a chair, and invited Su Jinglan to sit. “President Su, please have a seat.”

She drew out the chair opposite and steadied it with a hand on the backrest as she turned to Ning Jiuwei, her tone carrying a touch more anticipation and shyness. “Teacher Ning, please sit.”

“Thank you.” Ning Jiuwei didn’t refuse and calmly took her seat.

The square table had two seats on each side, so Jiang Shiyao didn’t have to agonize over it. She naturally settled beside Ning Jiuwei.

She’d have fewer chances to steal glances at Ning Jiuwei now, but at least they were sitting closer.

The server brought over a tablet for them to order. Jiang Shiyao cradled it in her hands and leaned in toward Ning Jiuwei, asking what she felt like eating.

“Anything’s fine,” Ning Jiuwei replied calmly. She glanced indifferently at the pair across from them before her gaze returned to Jiang Shiyao, accompanied by a gentle smile. “I’m just happy to try the handiwork of Little Jiang the designer’s childhood friend.”

Su Jinglan also had a tablet in hand. Her eyes peered over the top of it at the two figures huddled close together on the opposite side, her expression darkening.

Throughout their walk inside, Jiang Shiyao hadn’t mentioned her childhood friend at all. Now Ning Jiuwei was expressing interest in tasting that friend’s cooking, which meant the two of them must have chatted about it in the car.

Who knew what else they’d discussed.

“Is Little Jiang’s childhood friend a chef?” Su Jinglan interjected into their conversation, her face impassive.

“Yes.” Jiang Shiyao had almost forgotten about the president sitting across from her. She flashed her professional smile, answered the question, then turned back to Ning Jiuwei. “My childhood friend personally prepares a special dish every day—it’s the restaurant’s signature.”

Jiang Shiyao swiped through the tablet and pointed to the daily special. “This is the one. Today’s is Treading Snow Seeking Plum.”

The name gave no hint of the ingredients involved, and since Ning Jiuwei hadn’t mentioned any dietary restrictions, she nodded with a smile. “Let’s order that one.”

As they were placing their orders, the restaurant boss approached. She wore a thin white hoodie and sported a neat, crisp short haircut that made her look exceptionally youthful.

“Yaoyao, you’re here.” The boss’s gaze swept over the other two women at the table upon arrival, lighting up at the sight of two striking, mature beauties.

“Let me introduce everyone. This is my childhood friend, Jiang Gufan—she’s the chef and the owner of this private cuisine restaurant.” Jiang Shiyao stood up and gestured toward her solitary superior across the table. “This is the president of our Design Division, President Su. We happened to run into her today, so we’re dining together.”

Before Jiang Shiyao could introduce Ning Jiuwei, Jiang Gufan flashed a knowing smile and addressed her directly. “And that must make you Teacher Ning, right?”

Ning Jiuwei responded politely. “Hello, Boss Jiang.”

“That ‘Boss Jiang’ has my heart racing.” Jiang Gufan pressed her childhood friend back into her seat and smoothly drew closer to Ning Jiuwei. “I’ve heard Yaoyao talk about you so much—finally meeting the real deal.”

Jiang Shiyao’s face burned with embarrassment, terrified her friend might let slip something mortifying. She quickly shooed her away. “I ordered Treading Snow Seeking Plum—go make it!”

“Looks like today’s special has the wrong name,” Jiang Gufan teased, refusing to budge as she poked fun at her designer friend. “It should be Treading Snow Seeking Spring.”

Her secret laid bare, Jiang Shiyao wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and disappear. Jiang Gufan chuckled and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Alright, alright. I’ll get to cooking—I’ll make a couple extra dishes for you, so your Teacher Ning can have a proper taste.”

Su Jinglan gripped her tablet so hard she nearly cracked it, her icy gaze boring sternly into Jiang Shiyao.

“Teacher Ning, don’t mind my childhood friend—she’s just teasing me like always.” Jiang Shiyao felt overheated enough to strip off her clothes, but a sudden chill ran down her spine when she caught sight of the glare from across the table.

Ning Jiuwei’s smile didn’t falter. “Boss Jiang is quite amusing.”

Su Jinglan took a deep, steadying breath and set down her tablet.

“Have you decided on your order, President Su?” Jiang Shiyao asked the president through gritted teeth. “Shall we add a couple more dishes?”

“Let Teacher Ning choose.” Su Jinglan echoed the honorific.

The word “Teacher” caught Ning Jiuwei off guard. The heartbeat she’d forcibly suppressed surged free in an instant, pounding like a drum.

Ning Jiuwei had never realized that simple title could evoke such a strange sensation. She clenched her fist discreetly, forcing herself to ignore the woman across from her as she gradually calmed her racing pulse.

Shortly after the boss departed, the server brought over a bottle of red wine—Bofei Winery Red Wine—and poured it into a clear glass decanter.

“Miss Jiang, the boss specifically instructed us to bring this for you,” the server relayed verbatim. “She said to drink as much as you like—whatever you do, don’t skimp.”

Wine could bolster courage, though too much might lead to poor decisions.

Jiang Shiyao’s heart nearly exploded from mortification. She deeply regretted not having sewn her childhood friend’s mouth shut earlier.

“Teacher Ning, please wait here a moment. I need to use the restroom.” Jiang Shiyao hurried off to the back kitchen to find her childhood friend.

The screened booth was now left with just Su Jinglan and Ning Jiuwei. Su Jinglan picked up the barley tea in front of her and cut straight to the chase about tonight’s dinner.

“Am I interrupting a date between you and Designer Little Jiang?”

Su Jinglan wanted a firm denial, and Ning Jiuwei duly obliged. “No, you’re not.”

Su Jinglan: “…”

That wasn’t the kind of denial she’d been hoping for.

“Are the two of you dating?” Su Jinglan’s lips curved slightly, forming an intriguing smile.

“Little Jiang and I are just colleagues.” Ning Jiuwei had no desire to explain herself at length to Su Jinglan, but something in those eyes compelled her to clarify. “This dinner is her way of thanking me for my feedback on her design draft.”

“I see.” Su Jinglan took a small sip of tea, her fingertips tracing the rim of the cup. “It seems like Jiang Shiyao has a thing for you.”

Ning Jiuwei let the comment hang, as if the conversation had reached its natural end.

She lifted her steaming teacup and sipped it slowly, eyes lowered. With her free hand, she pulled out her phone and quietly scrolled through the screen.

“Are you skipping tonight’s gathering dinner because of Jiang Shiyao?” Su Jinglan tried another topic, circling back to Jiang Shiyao once more.

It’s because of you that I’m not going to the gathering dinner.

The words flashed through Ning Jiuwei’s mind, but she kept them to herself. She slipped her phone back into her pocket, sipped her tea, and smiled without replying.

“Teacher Ning, are you skipping the gathering dinner for my sake?” Jiang Shiyao, returning from the kitchen, overheard the question and froze in shock. Her heart pounded uncontrollably as she murmured to herself, “She’s skipping it because she promised to have dinner with me?”

Right before clocking out, Jiang Shiyao had overheard colleagues chatting about an evening gathering dinner, but it seemed like only the director and the chief designer were going. She’d been terrified that it would fall through—Teacher Ning had finally agreed to dinner, and now it might get ruined.

Ning Jiuwei had left at the normal time without mentioning a word about it, and Jiang Shiyao’s heart had soared. The so-called gathering dinner her colleagues mentioned was probably just a rumor.

But it was real after all.

The screen blocked the line of sight, so Jiang Shiyao turned and slipped away to the restroom. She washed her hands with cold water, then patted her face to cool down.

Only when the heat had faded from her cheeks did Jiang Shiyao return to her seat.

Three delicate cold dishes had already been served—small portions, exquisitely presented. Ning Jiuwei hadn’t touched her chopsticks, waiting for Jiang Shiyao to return before taking her first bite.

The gesture struck Jiang Shiyao as something more, warming her heart.

“The flavors are excellent,” Ning Jiuwei said generously. “No wonder the place does such brisk business.”

“Thank you, Teacher Ning. If my childhood friend hears you praising her cooking, her tail will be wagging all the way to the sky.”

Su Jinglan, silent but radiating an intimidating aura, shot her a cool glance. Jiang Shiyao’s beaming smile—bright as a field of flowers—faded, and she nervously poured the wine.

“The wine’s had time to breathe. Teacher Ning, give it a try.” The highest-ranking person at the table was the president, but Jiang Shiyao was a little intimidated by her. Deep down, she wanted to look after Ning Jiuwei first, so she placed the first glass in front of her.

Designer Ning can’t drink alcohol,” Su Jinglan said coolly.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you couldn’t drink.”

The moment Jiang Shiyao heard that, she reached to take the glass back, but Ning Jiuwei chuckled lightly by way of explanation. “I drove here. Forgot, Designer Little Jiang?”

She had no intention of letting Jiang Shiyao know she had a low tolerance for alcohol. Jiang Shiyao’s hand hovered in midair, torn about whether to retrieve it. “I’ll have a friend come act as my designated driver. Would you mind, Teacher Ning?”

“You and President Su go ahead.”

Ning Jiuwei didn’t say she minded outright, but her response made it clear.

Jiang Shiyao took the glass back and poured a fresh one into an empty cup for the president. “President Su, it’s an honor to share a meal with you. Cheers.”

Steel yourself, she thought, then downed it in one go.

Su Jinglan paused for a moment before lifting her glass and draining it completely.

By the end of the meal, Su Jinglan had knocked back several glasses.

“Little Jiang, where do you live?” Ning Jiuwei, the only one who hadn’t drunk, stepped up to take responsibility for getting everyone home safely. A girl who’d had too much to drink shouldn’t ride with strangers, whether in a rideshare or a taxi.

Jiang Shiyao was feeling a bit dizzy. She rubbed her forehead, her dewy eyes fixed on Ning Jiuwei with an endless smile. “Is Teacher Ning going to take me home? I live at…”

“Isn’t Little Jiang’s childhood friend right here?” Su Jinglan cut in. “Designer Ning and I have somewhere to be. Have Boss Jiang take you home.”

The president’s word was law. Jiang Shiyao didn’t dare argue and accepted reluctantly, against her true feelings. “Right, my childhood friend’s here. She can take me back just fine. She can get off work anytime.”

Jiang Shiyao sent a message to her childhood friend. Jiang Gufan, who hadn’t shown her face all evening to avoid getting in the way, hurried over the moment she got it. “Drunk too much?”

Their childhood friendship ran deep, so Jiang Gufan naturally slung an arm around Jiang Shiyao’s shoulders. “Come on, I’ll take you back… Wait, actually, maybe Teacher Ning should. See? I haven’t even gotten off work yet.”

In that crucial moment, Jiang Gufan nearly dropped the ball. She steadied her friend and subtly nudged her toward Ning Jiuwei.

Su Jinglan stepped right between the two of them. “Designer Ning and I have some business to discuss. Little Jiang doesn’t look so great—Boss Jiang, you should get your childhood friend home sooner rather than later.”

“Let’s go, Ning Jiuwei.” Su Jinglan exuded the full authority of a president, leaving Ning Jiuwei no choice but to comply.

They rode down in silence all the way to the underground parking lot. With no one else around, Ning Jiuwei gave a slight smile. “So, what exactly do President Su and I need to talk about?”

She planned to call Su Jinglan’s bluff right there and head home on her own.

Su Jinglan locked eyes with Ning Jiuwei, closing the distance between them one step at a time. “I’ve been drinking, so I can’t drive. Would Designer Ning be so kind as to give me a ride home?”

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Author’s note:

President Su: If you don’t send me, I’ll pretend to be drunk right here